As we edge closer to summer, we should all be aware by now of the warm and dry conditions that are present across the state.
Although there are other parts of the state with more difficult conditions, this is no different in the North East, where I am Assistant Chief Officer (ACO).
By now, a range of pre-season briefings and exercises will have taken place in your brigade and district. I know you will be aware of the Chief Officer’s expectations that all operational members will have completed the Burnover Drill and Hazardous Tree Awareness Package respectively. These are critical activities that go directly to you and your crews’ safety.
As well as this, I’d like to take a moment to urge all firefighters to remember to focus on Front Line Safety, for example; LACES, Speak Up, Learning from Experience (a number of short Case Studies), Health, Heat Stress and Injury Prevention, Raised Bed Cropping and Fire fighting, Aircraft and Aviation. Remember you can access reference to these materials online - it’s a great idea then to discuss those aspects within your brigades and groups.
These things, coupled with pre-season briefings and exercises, are important for your safety and will help update you on important operational matters for this coming fire season.
It has been a busy few months within the North East region, with a number of fantastic activities and exercises taking place prior to summer.
The Clonbinane Community Hall was the location of a very well attended fire scenario recently. This was hosted by the Clonbinane Action Group and held in conjunction with DELWP, as part of the Safer Together Program
In District 13, more than 50 volunteers from four brigades came together in October to stage a multi-brigade pumping and search and rescue training operation at Marybrooke Manor in Sherbrooke. The event was a fantastic chance for firefighters in the area to practice key skills in a controlled environment, ahead of summer.
A mock rescue situation at Mount Buller, where we joined forces with the likes of Victoria Police, SES and Ambulance Victoria, further improved the level of interoperability between CFA and other agencies.
Our general activities and our pre-summer season preparedness not only takes time and commitment from brigades and members on a particular day, it always involves a significant amount of time in planning preparing and coordinating the activities.
To all of you in whatever role it is that you undertake in CFA, a sincere thank you for your significant contribution, commitment, effort and support.
Christmas and the New Year are not far away. It’s a time for family and friends and hopefully, a time to relax and recharge the batteries for the year to come. Stay safe and look out for each other.